Missouri Women's Basketball Falls to Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - Mizzou Women's Basketball falls to 15-11 overall, 4-8 in league play after a battle at Bud Walton Arena on Sunday. Kulas led the Tigers in contest with a team high 13 points. Crafton also made an impact on the court with eight points and five assists.

Liz Smith and Kyley Simmons got the Tigers on the board early in the game, but Arkansas wouldn't let the Tigers stay ahead for long. Both Smith and Simmon's shots were answered almost immediately by the Razorbacks. Following the first television timeout of the game, Arkansas went on an 11-0, ended by Crafton who made a layup that put the score at 17-6, still in the Razorback's favor.

After the under eight minute media timeout, freshman Michelle Hudyn made a basket for the Tigers to make it 17-8. Although Arkansas answered Hudyn's shot with another trey, the points stand as Hudyn's first points in league play.

The Razorbacks made two free throws coming out of the final media timeout of the half, and hit a trey to follow. Sophomore Morgan Eye couldn't let that go, making her first three-pointer of the game immediately following Arkansas'. The Razorback's took control of the court for the rest of the half, and the two teams went into the locker rooms with a 33-11 score.

Kulas began the second half at the charity stripe, making two for the Tigers right off the bat. After an Arkansas bucket, both Kulas and Smith made baskets for the Tigers making it 35-17 on the floor. Arkansas hit a three going into the media timeout, and made another two baskets coming back into the game. Crafton made it 42-19 right before the under-12 media timeout, but Arkansas answered that when play resumed.

The Tigers put up six in a row to make it 44-25 with about ten minutes to play. Both teams added a few more to their tally for a 49-27 game with just over five minutes left. The Tigers played hard in the second half, stepping up their defensive game. Missouri scored seven in a row thanks to four free throws from Crafton and a nice three-pointer from Kulas. Kulas added another bucket to her tally to make it 52-36, but Arkansas followed up almost immediately.

After the final media timeout of the day, Arkansas netted a few more, and the Tigers added four to their total for a final game score of 61-40 in Fayetteville.

The Tigers return to Columbia to host the LSU Tigers on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. The game will air on Comcast SportsSouth as well.